U.S. Figure Skater Mariah Bell Accused of Cutting South Korean Rival

By R.J. Johnson - @rickerthewriter

March 21, 2019

An American figure skater has been accused of trying to intentionally injure her South Korean rival during a warm-up routine at the International Skating Union World Championships in Saitama, Japan on Wednesday.

Mariah Bell, 22, was reportedly skating during a warm-up session when she collided into 16-year-old Lim Eun-soo. Lim's management agency told the Straits Times that Lim was skating close to the edge of the rink "as much as possible so as to not interfere with other skaters."

However, Bell reportedly came up behind Lim, and crashed into the 16-year-old South Korean, leading at her with Bell's skate. The collision caused Lim to suffer a gash on her leg.

"Lim was slowly skating on the edge of the rink after completing her turn. Mariah Bell, who was scheduled to rehearse after Lim, suddenly kicked and stabbed Lim’s calf with her skate blades," Eun-soo's agent told Agence France-Presse.

"Mariah Bell didn't apologize to Lim Eun-soo after the incident and continued to rehearse for her routine."

Lim had to be taken to get emergency medical treatment, but returned for the rest of her warm-up after getting the cut taped up.

The agency added that the incident seemed intentional "considering how Bell came from behind."

Lim's management has requested a formal investigation from the Korea Skating Union. The union has agreed to the request, but officials have refused to speculate on what actions might be taken against Bell if she is found to have been intentionally responsible for harming Lim.

The two skaters had been training together in Los Angeles and with Lim's agent claiming that Bell had been bullying Lim for months leading up to Wednesday's incident.

Photos: Getty Images

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